The following ballot measures have been certified for the November 7, 2006 general election.

Plain Language Explanation:
This amendment will allow Missouri patients and researchers access to any method of stem cell research, therapies and cures permitted under federal law. It also will set limits on any stem cell research, therapies and cures, including banning human cloning or attempted cloning. Violators will be subject to criminal and civil penalites.

Official Ballot Title:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to allow and set limitations on stem cell research, therapies, and cures which will:

ensure Missouri patients have access to any therapies and cures, and allow Missouri researchers to conduct any research, permitted under federal law;

ban human cloning or attempted cloning;

require expert medical and public oversight and annual reports on the nature and purpose of stem cell research;

impose criminal and civil penalties for any violations; and

prohibit state or local governments from preventing or discouraging lawful stem cell research, therapies and cures?

The proposed constitutional amendment would have an estimated annual fiscal impact on state and local governments of $0-$68,916.

Fair Ballot Language excerpt:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow and set limitations on stem cell research, therapies, and cures which will:

ensure Missouri patients have access to any therapies and cures, and allow Missouri researchers to conduct any research, permitted under federal law;

ban human cloning or attempted cloning;

require expert medical and public oversight and annual reports on the nature and purpose of any stem cell research;

impose criminal and civil penalties for any violations; and

prohibit state or local governments from preventing or discouraging lawful stem cell research, therapies and cures.

A “no” vote would not ensure that stem cell research permitted under federal law is allowed to be conducted in Missouri and that Missouri patients have access to stem cell therapies and cures permitted under federal law.

Plain Language Explanation:
This amendment creates a fund which will be used only to pay for programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use and to provide healthcare to low-income Missourians and Medicaid recipients, and to cover administrative costs. These programs will be funded by imposing a tax of 4 cents per cigarette and 20 percent on all other tobacco products.

Official Ballot Title:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund which will:

be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income individuals and Medicaid recipients, and to cover administrative costs;

be funded by a tax of four cents per cigarette and twenty percent on other tobacco products; and

be kept separate from general revenue and annually audited?

Additional taxes of four cents per cigarette and twenty percent of the manufacturer’s invoice price on other tobacco products generates an estimated $351 - $499 million annually for tobacco control programs, healthcare for low income Missourians, and payments for services provided to Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured Missourians. Local governmental fiscal impact is unknown.

Fair Ballot Language excerpt:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to create the Healthy Future Trust Fund. This Fund will be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use. The Fund also will be used to increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income Missourians and Medicaid recipients. In addition, it will pay for the cost of administering the fund

Money for the Fund will be generated by a tax on tobacco products. The tax will be four cents per cigarette and twenty percent on other tobacco products.

This Fund will be maintained and kept separate from general revenue and it will be audited annually.
A “no” vote means a Healthy Future Trust Fund would not be created to reduce and prevent tobacco use or increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income Missourians and Medicaid recipients. And no additional tax would be imposed on tobacco products.

Plain Language Explanation:
This amendment will create a tax exemption for real and personal property that is used or held for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans’ organizations.

Official Ballot Title:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to include a tax exemption for real and personal property that is used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans' organizations?

It is estimated this proposal will have a minimal cost to state government. The estimated costs to local governmental entities range from zero to approximately $45,000.

Fair Ballot Language excerpt:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to include a tax exemption for real and personal property that is used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans’ organizations.

A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to include a tax exemption for real and personal property that is used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans’ organizations.

This measure, if passed, and if an exemption from taxation is subsequently enacted, will decrease taxes on real and personal property used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans’ organizations.

Plain Language Explanation:
This amendment will prevent statewide elected officials, members of the General Assembly and state judges from receiving a state pension if they are convicted of a felony while in office or if they are removed from office for misconduct or after impeachment. Also, this measure will require a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly in order to change or disapprove the salary recommendations of the Missouri Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials.

Official Ballot Title

Shall Article XIII, Section 3 of the Constitution be amended to require that legislators, statewide elected officials, and judges forfeit state pensions upon felony conviction, removal from office following impeachment or for misconduct, and to require that compensation for such persons be set by a citizens' commission subject to voter referendum?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs to state or local governments.

Fair Ballot Language excerpt:

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to disqualify any statewide elected official, member of the General Assembly or state judge from receiving any pension from the state of Missouri if such official is convicted of a felony which occurred while in office. These officials will also be disqualified from receiving a pension if they are removed from office for misconduct or after impeachment. These restrictions shall apply after January 1, 2007.

This Proposition further changes provisions relating to the Missouri Citizens’ Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials. The Constitution currently provides that every two years, a citizens commission determines the compensation for statewide elected officials, members of the General Assembly, and state judges based on their duties. The purpose of this commission is to ensure that the power to control the rate of compensation of elected officials is retained and exercised by Missouri taxpayers. This Proposition will prevent the General Assembly from changing the commission’s recommended compensation schedule for elected officials through the appropriation process. Instead, the General Assembly will only be allowed to disapprove the commission’s recommendations by a two-thirds majority vote. Members of the General Assembly cannot receive any compensation increase approved by the Citizens’ Commission until January 1, 2009.

A “no” vote would allow payment of a pension from the state of Missouri to any statewide elected official, legislator or state judge who is convicted of a felony occurring while they were in office or who were removed from office for misconduct or following impeachment. The compensation schedule of statewide elected officials, legislators and state judges determined every two years by the Citizens’ Commission would continue to be subject to change by the General Assembly through the appropriation process.

Plain Language Explanation:
This amendment will increase the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour or to the federal minimum wage rate if that rate is higher. Thereafter, the state minimum wage will be adjusted every year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Official Ballot Title

Shall Missouri Statutes be amended to increase the state minimum wage rate to $6.50 per hour, or to the level of the federal minimum wage if that is higher, and thereafter adjust the state minimum wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index?

The proposed revisions to Missouri’s wage rate laws generates an estimated $3.3 million to $4.3 million annually in state revenue. The impact on local government is unknown.

Fair Ballot Excerpt:

A “yes” vote will amend Missouri statutes toincrease the state minimum wage rate to $6.50 per hour, or to the level of the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. Every year thereafter, the state minimum wage rate will be adjusted based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

A “no” vote will not increase or set a state minimum wage rate.

This measure will have no impact on taxes.

The following ballot measure has been certified for the August 8, 2006 primary election.

A) reauthorize for ten years the one-tenth percent sales/use tax for (1) soil and water conservation; (2) state parks and historic sites; and

B) resubmit this issue to a vote every ten years or at an earlier special election?

The proposed constitutional amendment continues until 2016, but does not increase, the existing sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent that is set to terminate in 2008. The tax would generate approximately
$82 million annually for soil and water conservation efforts and operation of the state park system.